7 foods that lower your libido

Lost your libido? Suffering with a low sex drive can be so frustrating — especially with Valentine's Day approaching. But there are a few things that can stop it dead in its tracks without you even realising. From eating cheese to drinking gin and tonic, here are 7 surprising things that can instantly kill your bedroom buzz.

The libido is a fragile thing that can be killed off by simple daily stresses. And with Valentine's Day fast approaching, the last thing you want at the end of a romantic evening is to fall into bed in a tired slump.

But putting tiredness and work or family stress aside, there are a few other culprits that could be killing your sex drive without you even knowing.

From drinking fizzy drinks to indulging in too much cheese, here are seven surprising things that could be the reason for your burnt out buzz.

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1. Cheese

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Bad news for cheese lovers – eating creamy Camembert or nutty Cheddar can lower both male and female testosterone levels, which is essential when it comes to boosting your sex drive. Studies have found that eating cheese more than five times a week can in fact lower your libido. Cheese contains the enzyme aromatase that converts testosterone to oestrogen, so if you're looking to up the ante on your relationship, try laying off cheese for a while! Other dairy products could also have an effect, so it might be worth holding back on things like milk and yoghurt too.

2. Gin and tonic

Not particularly one for us girls to worry about, but the quinine ingredient that's found in tonic lowers testosterone in men, so will hinder your chances of getting hot under the collar after a heavy drinking session.

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3. Fizzy drinks

Artificial sweeteners – specifically ones found in diet fizzy drinks – often contain aspartame, a chemical that affects your serotonin levels. We need as much serotonin as possible when it comes increasing sex drive, so try to cut down if you're looking to give your libido a bit of a boost.

4. Soy products

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Although soy-based products act as healthy alternatives to dairy-laden foods, research shows that soy not only lowers testosterone levels and libido, it can also be the cause of erectile dysfunction too. Just make sure that if your partner does consume soy products, try to keep them to a minimum to avoid any embarrassing hiccups in the bedroom.

6. Microwave popcorn

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Curling up in front of the TV with a big bowl of popcorn might seem like the perfect prelude to a night of passion, but microwave popcorn can in fact be an instant mood killer, particularly for men. The popcorn bags contain perfluorooctanoic acids that can significantly lower sperm count and affect female fertility. The chemicals found in the inner lining of the bag can also lower sex drive too. Try making handmade popcorn cooked on the stove instead, it will taste better and be much healthier for you.

6. The contraceptive pill

One of the worst sex drive killers for women is the contraceptive pill. The added boost of hormones can play havoc with your sex drive, in some cases entirely zapping your desire to even want to think about sex. Some studies have shown that those taking the contraceptive pill find it difficult to feel aroused during sex and also find their sexual desire is significantly lower than it was before you started taking it.

If you feel the contraceptive pill is affecting your sex drive, it might be worth talking to your GP to see if they can recommend another type of pill or an alternative contraceptive device.

7. Fried food

Another reason to lay off the burgers – fried, fatty foods are killer culprits when it comes to low libidos. The trans fats found in fatty fried foods dramatically decrease both female and male sex drive, as well as also have a damaging affect on both male and female fertility.

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